-wiley



4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

P. W. WILEY.

MACHINE FOR ATTAGHING LABELS T0 PACKAGES.

Jnbanlr MMW' 64% Patented July 8, 1884.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2..

(No' Model.)

P. w. WILEY. MACHINE FOR ATTAGHINGLABELS T0 PACKAGES.

Patented Ju1y8, 1884.

( 26 mCX/66071/ n. PETERS mwumn hw. warmm. n c

(N0 Model.) 4 SheetS -Shee't 3. y

P. W. "WILEY. MACHINE FOR AATTAUHING LABELS TO PAGKAGES. No. 301,843.

Patented July 8, 1884.

N. PTERS- PMWL'rllwgrzphlh Washinllon. D. C.

(No Modl.)

' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 P. W. WILEY;

MACHINE FOR ATTAGHING LABELS To PACKAGES. No. 301,843. Patented July 8,1834..

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UNITED STAT S PATENT Fmcni.

PHILIP W. WILEY, OF RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA.

MACHINE FOR ATTACHING LABELS TO PACKAGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 301,843, dated July 8,1884.

Application filed January 9, 1884. (No model.)

is applicable in whole or in part to machines for attaching labels toother articles. These packages are squared in a mold, so that they arein the form of rectangular parallelopipe-' dons with an oblong base, andthey have two labels applied to them, one in the form of a narrow stripencircling the package at its middle, and theother in the form of anoblong sheet affixed to the face of the package over the two ends of thestrip-label.

The invention consists, first, in combining with holders for supportingthe packages and means for introducing the latter into the holders,devices for pasting the strip-labels around the squared or irregularbodies of the same,the said devices being adapted to conform in theirmovements to. the irregular outline.

Heretofore machines have been made for pasting labels around cans; butthese have not been adapted to the purposes of this invention, .becausethe rolling of the can is relied upon to efiect the pasting of the labelto its periphery; or if this be not the case in some instances thecylindrical shape of the can is nevertheless necessary for the operationof the machine.

The invention consists, secondly, in the combination,with the means forpasting striplabels around the packages, of means for applyingface-labels to them and mechanism connecting the said means, so thatsaid labels are successively and automatically applied to each package.

This invention further comprises certain special constructions,combinations, and arrangements of parts in the label-attaehingmechanism, claimed. I

The following is a description of what is as hereinafter set forth and vpack age.

considered the best mode of applyin g the principle of the invention,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which represent one ofthe improved machines.

Figure 1 is a plan View, partly in horizontal section; Fig. 2, a sideelevation; Fig. 3, avertical longitudinal section; Fig. 4, a partialview showing the rotatory holders in connection with the upperfountain-brush; Figs. 5 to 10, detail views, and Figs. 11 and 12 viewsof a modification.

A is the machine-frame in which the several parts are supported; 13, anendless traveling apron G, a stationary table; D D, rotatory holders forsupporting the bags or packages in applying the strip -labels; E, afountain-brush; F, the box or receptacle for the striplabels; G,stationary ledges; H, a second fountain-brush I, the box or receptaclefor the face-labels; K,

-a pressing-rollemL, an automatic stop, and

M N, pressing and delivery rollers. The apron B is supported at itsinner end (righthand end in Figs. 1 and 3) on a roller, a, journaled inhearings in the machine-frame and revolved intermittently by. means of abelt on the pulley Z). The outer end of the apron may be supported by asimilar roller; but, as shown,

the apron is broken off. It may extend to any desired distance. The bagsor packages to be labeled are placed on the apron.

The table 0 is supported on the machineframe, with its upper surface onor nearly on a level with that of apron B, so that the bags or packageswill pass-ontoit from said apron. There are upright walls 0 at the sidesof the table, which converge slightly toward the inner (right-handlend,so as to place the bags or packages in the proper position to passintothe first pair of holders, 1). These (and the holders D also)consist of. blocks mounted upon short shafts d, which are journaled inthe machine-frame. The face of the blocks is grooved at a, so as toreceive the ends of a The height of the grooves is about equal to thethickness of a package, and the length is a little less than its width.Each block or holder-is provided with a clamping jaw, f, which passesthrough anotch, g, in one side of the groove, so that it may bear uponthe package within. It is hinged at h to the block, and is operated bymeans of a spring,

'17, which presses up the tail of the jaw and causes the opposite end toclamp the package in the groove. Between the holders D and D of eachpair space is left, so that the middle of the packages will be exposedfor the application to that portion of the strip-labels. During thisapplication the holders, with the pack ages, are revolved by means ofgears k at the ends of the short shafts d. The two gears k on each sidemesh with each other, so that the holders D revolve in the oppositedirection to the holders D, and one of the said gears 76 on each sidemeshes with an idler, Z, mounted on a journal pin or stud, m, fixed to"the machine-frame, and this idler in turn meshes with a mutilated gear,a. The mutilated gear has the same number of teeth as the gears 7;; butthe teeth are arranged in a semi-circumference, so that the gears I: andthe holders D D make one complete revolution in one halfturn of the geara and remain at rest during the other half-turn. The mutilated gears n(for there are two such gearsone for each side of the machine) are fixedon the shaft 1;, which is the main shaft of the machine, and to whichthe power is or may be applied in any known or suitable way, so as torevolve it continuously. As the holders 1) l) finish their revolutionthe tail of each clamping-jawf passes under a fixed pin, g, which forcesit down against the pressure of the spring z and raises the front orclamping end of the jaw f. \Vhen at rest the grooves in the holders arehorizontal, and their bottoms form substantially a continuation of theapron l3 and table 0, so that the packages may readily be moved into theholders 1) from the table 0, or into the holders D from the holders D.The clamping-jaws, being withdrawn by the pin q, do not interfere withthe movements of the packages. As soon as or shortly after the holdersbegin to tnrn,the tails of the clamping-jaws pass from under the pins q,and the springs i cause the jaws to clamp the packages in the holders.The feeding of the bags or packages is effected by the movement of theapron B,which begins as soon as the holders come to rest, and occupies aquarter of a revolution of the main shaft p. The movement is impartedfrom the segment or are r on the side of the mutilated gear a (shown inFig. 2) through the pulley .9, turning on a fixed stud. The crossed beltt and the pulley b arethe shaft of roller (1. The segment or are 1'operates by friction. The re maining quarter of a revolution, duringwhich the apron B, as well as the holders D I), remaln statlonary, isoccupied in applying one end of the strip-label to the package inholders D, as will be hereinafter explained.

Above the open space between the holders I) is supported the fountainpaste-brush E.

It is fastened to the lower end of a rod, a,

which is free to slide in a hole in the stationthe middle of the bar a:is broken away, and

in Fig. 4c the two ends. The upper parts of the uprights 50* are brokenoff in Fig. 4c. The weight of the brush and the rod 11, is or may bepartly supported. by springs 15, Fig. 4, (shown as spiraltension-springs,) or by equivalent means. \lVhen there is a packageinthe holders D, the brush is upheld by the wheels o,which rest upon thepackage. then in contact with the 'bag or wrapper of the package, andwhen the latter is revolved by the holders leaves a band of paste aroundit of the width of the strip-labels. The wheels resting upon the packageraise and lower the brush, so thatit conforms in its movements to theirregular outline of the package. Vhen a package is not in the holders,the brush is held up by a pin, a, in the rod 10 at such height that thepackages can easily be forced under it.

The pastebrush E may be of any ordinary or suitable construction. Asshown, the fibrous part of the brush 1 is fastened to one side of thepaste-holder or fountain z, and a gate, a, is provided for closing moreor less the outlet of the holder or fountain. Itis adjustable, by meansof a screw, 7), to vary the openingin the mouth of the holder orfountain, so as to allow more or less paste to flow onto the fibrouspart, to be wiped oil on the bag or package.

Below the level of the holders D D is the box or receptacle Ffor thestrip-labels. The bottom 0 rests upon the flat bar d, which is adaptedto slide in a hole in the stationary cross-bar c. of the sides and ends,fits loosely over or around the bottom, and is held up by the spiraltension-springs f, each connected at thelower end with a pin, g,attached to the frame, and at the upper end with a pin, it, fixed in thebottom and projecting througha slot in the ends of the box. (See box I.)The frame of the box may therefore be depressed inde pendently of thebottom, which acts as a plunger to force the labels to the top, and whenrelieved the springs return the frame. The bar d passes down in closeproximity to the shaft 2', which extends lengthwise of the machine, andis geared to the cross-shaft p by bevel eog-wheels k. A pin, Z, providedwith a friction-roller, projects from the bar (1 under the edge of thedisk-cam m, and the said roller is usually held in contact with the camm by the weight a. This weight is fastened to one end of a cord, j),which passes over the fixed pulley q, and is fastened at the otherend'to the pin Z. The weight is suflicient to overbalance the label-boxand the bar d when the former is full of labels, and it thereforeconstantly tends to raise the bar and the labelbox. The cam m is a diskmolded or cut away, as shown in Fig. 6, so as to leave two inclines, 1and 2, the former, or number 1, being more nearly radial, and thereforemore abrupt, than the other. In the revolution of the cam the roller 011pin Zis first drawn over the more abrupt incline 1, so that the bar cland The brush is The frame of the box, composed I package by the weight16.

label-box F are lifted'rapidly by the weight a,

but are more slowly drawn down by the. ac-

tion of the incline 2. When the label -box rises, the top of the framecomes into contact with the bottom of the table 0, and also with i thebottoms of the packages in holders D D, and is held stationary, whilethe bottom or plunger 0 is farther advanced by the weight a, and thelabels are lifted by it until the upper label is brought into contactwith the package in the holders D. This package has had a ring of pasteapplied to it when supported .in the holders D, from which it has beentransv, ferred to the holders D.

is or may be provided with a cover, r, extending over the top, so as toleave only the proper end exposed. After the endof the strip-label hasbeen stuck to the package in holders they are revolved by the meansbefore explained. As they revolve the roller Kpresses the strip labelinto contact with the paste on the package. This roller, which ispreferably made of or surfaced with rubber or similar elastic material,is carried by a bar or rod, .9, that is free to slide in a hole incross-bar t, and is forced up so as to-press the roller against the Thisweight is fastened to'the cord 1/, which passes over the pulley w, andis, at the other end fastened to.

a pin in the end of the bar or rod 8'. Being held by yielding pressurethe roller can move in and out to conform to the irregular outline ofthe bag or package. In order to keep the roller out of the fresh pasteon the package it is not allowed to come into contactwith the bag untilthe holders D have revolved a sufficient distance to bring the end ofthe label over the roller. To hold off the roller until the proper time,a cam, 05,, on the shaft t" is arranged to strike and bear down aroller, y, on a pin attached to the bar orrod s. The shape of the cam 00is shown in Fig. 7. After the strip-label has been applied the packageis passed from the holders D onto the ledges G. A roller, z, at thefront of the ledges, causes the packages to run onto them moreeasily.Between the ledges is fastened a plate, a its upper surface slightlybelow the top of the ledges. This plate has an opening the size of theface-label. Below this plate is the fountain brush H, for applying pastethrough the opening to the face of the package. The plate a servestherefore as a'stencil. The fountain brush H consists of a well, I), anda cylindrical brush 0 'ournaled in bearin s attached 7 7 J b to thewell, and provided with rollers d, fixed on the journals of the brush.These rollers the friction causes the brush to be turnedback and forthin the paste in the well. Wire scrapers f prevent the brush fromtakingup an excess'of paste. They are made adjustable by attaching them to theedge of the well by set-screws or by other suitable means, so that theycan be set nearer to orfarther from the axis of the brush in order thusto regulate the amount of paste taken up. The wires f are fastened tothe bars l14,which have at the ends depending lugs 112 and 113 (see Fig.10) that fit over the edge of the well If. Set-screws 115, tappedthrough the lugs 112,press against the well and retain the scrapers inplace.

The fountain H is reciprocated by pitmen or connecting-rods betweencrank-pins a on two of the gears 70, and pins on the ends of a longplate or wide bar, If, which passes through slots t in the machine-frameand under the pastewell b. It supports the latter. After the paste forthe face-label has been applied, the package is pushed along the ledgesuntil it is over the box or receptacle I for the facelabels. This box issubstantially like the box F for the strip-labels, and the descriptionneed not be repeated. The same letters indicate corresponding parts. Itrests upon and is fastened to the sliding bar lc-,which is pressed up bythe weight Z to bring the upper label into contact with the pasted faceof the pack age, and is drawn down afterward by the cam m on thehorizontal shaft i, leaving the top label sticking to the package. Thepackages while on the ledges G are held down by the cover 11?. Thestencil-plate a being set below the top of the ledges, is not liable toscrape off the fresh paste when the packages are moved past it. Themovement of the packages through the machine is effected by theintermittent rotation of the apron B, the package behind pushing alongthose in front, and the whole moving the width of a package at eachstep. In order to prevent the row of packages from advancing too far thestop L is provided. It is supported as a slide in ways or grooves p andis raised or lowered as required by the cam '9 through the shoe 1 andsupporting-rods s. The cam is so arranged that it allows the stop L todrop behind the package, which has just been labeled,and which iscarried off by the rollers M-N. It thus stops the succeeding package inthe proper position over the label-box I. The roller M is revolvedcontinuously by' the belt t which conveys motion from the pulley 17 onshaft p to the pulley t on shaft of roller M. The operation of the wholemachine is as follows: The packages are placed in order on the apron B,face down, and the months or stamped ends all point in one direction.The apron being rotated through the are or segment 9", pulley s, belt 1,pulley Z), and roller a, the packages thereon are advanced and pushthose in the machine forward the width of a package. The packagepreviously on the table is pushed into the holders D, the one in holdersD into holders D, the one previously in holders D onto the front orinner ends of the ledges G, the one on the front of the ledges over thestencil-plate a", the one previously over the stencil-plate into thespace between the said plate and the label-box I, the one previously inthis space into position over the label-box I, and the one over thelabelbox between the delivery and pressing rollers M N, whichimmediately carry this last package out of the machine. The rollers M Nfeed the package somewhat faster than the line of packages is advancedby the apron B, so that the last package is not in the way of the stopL, which drops down immediately behind it. It thus stops the advance ofthe line of package until the are or segment 1, having passed from underthe pulley s, the apron B comes to rest. The cam q thereupon raises thestop out of the way. At the same time the cams m and m allow thelabel-boxes F and I to be raised by the weights a and Z and the end ofthe strip-label is stuck on the package in holders D, which package haspreviously been pasted while in the holders D, and the facelabel isstuck on the face of the package to which paste had previously beenapplied by the fountain-brush H through the stencil-plate a. The cams mm afterward withdraw the label-boxes F. The cam m is so shaped that itwithdraws the label-box F while the holders 1) are stationary; but soquick a movement is not required for the box I, and therefore the cam isshaped as shown in Fig. 8, to permit a slow movement. The movement ofthe labelbox I to apply the face-label takes place therefore partly,andmight take place wholly,during the revolution of the holders D D. Assoon as the label-box F is out of the way, the holders D D revolve,being made to do so by the engagement of the teeth of the mutilatedgears a with the idlers Z, and the fountainbrush H is reciprocated bymeans of the pitmen or connecting rods g. The revolution of the holdersD turns the package held therein under and in cont-act'with the brush E,which leaves a ring of paste around the package, and the revolution ofthe holders D turns the package held therein (together with thestrip-label stuck on by one end) over the roller K, which presses thesaid label smoothly upon the package. \Vhen the holders D D havefinished their revolution, the clamp of the jaws f is released, theapron B revolves, and the row of packages is advanced, when theoperations are repeated in the order de scribed upon the succeedingpackages.

The foregoing constitutes what is believed to be the best mode ofapplying the principle of the invention; but the invention is notstrictly or wholly limited thereto, since it is obvious thatmodifications may be made in detail without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. For example, i11- stead of using theintermittently-revolving apron-feed, the arrangement shown in Figs. 11and 12 can be adopted and be used with or without the automatic stop L.The packages are placed in the hopper I, supported above a table, which,as it corresponds to the table 0 of Figs. 1 and 3, is designated by thatletter. The hopper-mouth is distant from the table about the thicknessof a package. Upon the table is a feed-block, Q, mounted upon rollersthat travel on the table. It is connected by the lever to with a crank,I), on the shaft 11, the said lever being pivoted at c" to a stationarypart of the machine. The wrist of the crank works in a slot, (1 in thelever. The upper end of the lever has, by a slot and pin, connectionwith the feed-block at c. The effeet of the crank-connection is toreciprocate the feed-block. As it moves back from under the hopper itallows a package to fall upon the table. As it moves forward again itpushes this package against the other and advances the whole line. Theoperator could place the packages one at a time in front of a feedblock,if it be desired to keep his attention fixed on the machine.

Other modifications could be made. Thus, instead of the label-boxesshown, other means of known or suitable construction for applying labelsto pasted surfaces could be used. It should be observed, however, thatthe means shown are, it is believed, of new and improved construction,and are specially claimed.

It is evident that parts of the invention could be used separately.

I claim the new improvements herein described, all and several, to wit:

1. In a machine for attaching labels, mechanism for pasting strips orlong labels around packages of a squared or irregular form, the samecomprising rotatory holders constructed to hold such packages, combinedwith devices, substantially as described, for pasting the strips orlabels around them, said devices being movable toward and away from theaxis of the holders to conform to the irregular outline, as set forth.

2. A machine for automatically attaching to packages a strip or longlabel around each package, and a sheet-label 011 the face thereof, saidmachine comprising mechanism, substantially as described, for rotatingthe packages and pasting strip-labels around their middle, andmechanism, substantially as described, for supporting said packageswithout rotating them, and while thus held pasting asheetlabel on thefaces of the same, in combination with devices for operating saidmechanism, and a feeder for carrying the packages to and from the same,as set forth.

3. The combination, with rotatory holders, of a paste-brush, a movablecarrier for the said brush, and means, substantially as described, forsupporting it in contact with the package, and for moving the sametoward and away from the axis of the holder in conformity to the shapeof thepackage, as set forth.

4. The combination, with rotatory holders, of the box or receptacle forthe strip-labels, having a bottom adapted to act as a plunger, and

the mechanism, as described, for raising and lowering the same to stickthe top label against the package in said holders, substantially as setforth.

5. The combination, with rotatory holders,

of rotatory holders, the paste-brush, the box or receptacle for thestrip-labels, the pressingroller, and the operating mechanism,substantially as described. I

7. The rotatory holders having grooved faces to receive the ends of thepackages, and clampingjaws to hold them in the grooves, substantiallyasdescribed.

8. The combination, with grooved holders and mechanism for revolving thesame intermittently, of a feeder, and mechanism, substantially as setforth, for operating ittto ad-.

vance the packages in the interval between the rotation of the holders,so as automatically to insert the packages in the grooves, substantiallyas described. 1

9. The combination of an intermittent feeder, intermittently rotatedpackage-holders, a paste-brush, a label-box or receptacle, and a presseror pressing roller, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with a label-box for holding a number of'labels, ofa cam and connected parts, substantially as described, for moving thesame toward and away from the package, to attach'a label to it, as setforth.

11. The combination, with rotatory package-holders, of a brush and amovable sup"- port or carrier therefor, provided with wheels to restupon the package, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with a label-box and a movable support or carriertherefor, of a cam for controlling the movements of the said box and itscarrier, said cam having inclines tory holders, the brush, the wheeledbrushcarrier, and the box for the strip-labels, substantially asdescribed.

14. The combination of the rotatory holders, the paste-brush, thewheeled brush-carrier, the box for the strip-labels, the pressingroller, and the operating mechanism, substantially as described. g

15. The combination, with the rotatory holders, paste-brush, label-box,pressing roller,

and operating mechanism for pasting a striplabel around a package, of apaste-brush,

label-box, and operating machines for pasting a short label on thefacegof the package, substantially as described.

16. In a machine for attaching labels, a stencil-plate, in combinationwith a paste-brush,

substantially as described.

17. The combination of the ledges by which the package is supported, thestencil-plate between the ledges, and the paste-brush below the saidplate, substantially as described.

18. The combination, with the paste-brush for applying paste to, theface of the package, the box or receptacle "for the face-labels, and themechanism, substantially as described, for operating said paste-brushand label-box, of

a feeder for moving the packages from the brush to the label-box, as setforth.

19. The combination, with mechanism, as explained, comprising the ledgesG, cover n", fountaiirbrush H, and 1abel-box I, for pasting a label onthe face of packages, of the delivery and pressing rollers arranged toreceive between them the packages with the applied labels, substantiallyas described.

20. The combination, with the paste and label applying mechanism of amachine for attaching labels to packages, of an intermittent feeder foradvancing the line of packages,

"and an automatic stop to arrest their advance,

substantially as described. v

, 21. The herein-described machine for attachinglabels, comprising, incombination,- thefollowing elements, to wit: an intermittent feeder, therotatory holders, the two pastebrushes, the two label-boxes, thepresser-roller, and the pressing and delivery rollers, andtheir'operating mechanism, substantially as set forth.

22. The grooved holders for the packages, provided with clamping-jaws,in combination with devices, as explained, for releasing the jaws whenthe holders come to-rest in the position for receiving the packages,substantially as described.

23. The fountain-brush for applying'paste to the packages, comprising awell and a rota- PHILIP WV. WILEY.

, WVitnesses: R. S. WYNNE, P. A. WILEY.

IIO j

